GEARSE T Select swag for Rockers who roll

RAPID TRANSIT BIG CITY TANKBAG

Count us as fans of the magnetic tankbag. No straps to mess with, just plop the thing down and you’re good to go. Problem is most mag-bags are too big for the average custom-style bike. All that carrying capacity is nice if you’re an adventure-touring nutter on his way to Tierra del Fuego, but most of us just want enough space to tote a sack lunch, a warmer set of gloves and maybe a tightly packed rainsuit. Rapid Transit to the rescue with its Big City tankbag, a workable 11 x 9.1 x 7.3 inches in size with a clear plastic map sleeve on top. Well-priced, too, at $76.99.

www.rapid-transit.com

JUKEBOX RACERS T-SHIRT

How to “out-wardrobe” your buddies at the next café-racer run? Simple, order up a JukeBox Racers T-shirt from CaraibiRockers, an Italian clothing outfit run by three friends into “vintage speed machines, rock-n-roll music, traditional tattoos, rum and old stories about Caribbean pirates.” Sounds like a party! At 30 euros (about $40) plus shipping, a little pricey, but you’ll be the only one so-attired and that’s gotta be worth a few bucks, no?

www.caraibirockers.com

FAST FROM THE PAST REARSETS

As the name suggests, Fast from the Past specializes in performance parts for classic and vintage motorcycles. Included in the company catalog is a variety of Italian-made Tarozzi rearsets – you can’t go fast, after all, if your tootsies are dragging in the corners. Shown here is the $295 set for Honda CB750 and 900Fs. Other brands/models are available, and all parts are sold separately in different lengths, shapes and sizes, so almost any model can be fitted.

www.fastfromthepast.com

TOUR MASTER COASTER 3 LEATHER JACKET

One great side benefit to the rise of retrobikes is the classically styled riding gear that is being concurrently developed. No longer do you have to look like a Boy Racer to get decent levels of protection. Tour Master has a range of jackets in leather and textile, but we’re fond of the new leather Coaster 3, especially the model with the 1960s-style white racing stripes (it’s also sold in all-black). It comes with a removable thermal liner, armor at the shoulders and elbows, and zippered vents at the chest, sleeves and back, as well as an adjustable waist belt. Yours for $299.99.

www.tourmaster.com

Gearset

MIKUNI RS SMOOTHBORE CARBS

The fuel-injected CB1100 doesn’t need ’em, but older carbureted four-cylinders will respond well to a nice new set of Mikuni RS Flat Slide Smoothbores. An adjustable accelerator pump helps with instant throttle response at low rpm. Available in 34, 36, 38 and 40mm bore sizes with different carb spacing, and either left-side throttle crank or center crank, for particular bike applications. Priced from $865 to $1055.

www.sudco.com

THE CAFÉ RACER PHENOMENON

There’s a rich history to café racing, which you can read all about in Alastair Walker’s recent book, The Café Racer Phenomenon. Inside you’ll learn about Tritons and Rickmans and Dunstalls and Dresdas, illustrated with lots of period photography. You’ll read about the 59 Club, the Ace Café and the Busy Bee. There’s also a global directory of café builders, spares suppliers and websites. At $29.95, required reading for any erstwhile Ton-Up Boy.

www.veloce.co.uk